Can bristlenose plecos live with fancy goldfish?

Verdict
No

No. Bristlenose plecos and fancy goldfish should not share a tank. Fancy goldfish are coldwater animals (65–74°F); bristlenose plecos need 73–81°F. They overlap only at 73–74°F, the edge of both ranges.

Bristlenose plecoBristlenose pleco73–81°F · pH 6.5–7.5 Fancy goldfishFancy goldfish65–74°F · pH 7–8

What to watch

What works

Water side by side

55°60°65°70°75°80°85°90°Both: 73–74°Bristlenose pleco 73–81°Fancy goldfish 65–74°
The green band is the temperature range both can live in.
456789Both: 7–7.5Bristlenose pleco 6.5–7.5Fancy goldfish 7–8
The green band is the pH both tolerate.

Size to scale

Bristlenose pleco · 5 inFancy goldfish · 6 in0"1"2"3"4"5"6"
Adult length in an aquarium. A fish can swallow anything that fits in its mouth, roughly a third to half its own length for predators.

Care at a glance

Bristlenose plecoFancy goldfish
Temperature73–81 °F65–74 °F
pH6.5–7.57–8
Adult size5.0 in6.0 in
Minimum tank30 gal30 gal
TemperamentPeacefulPeaceful
Swims atBottomAll levels
GroupAlone or in pairsAlone or in pairs
DietHerbivoreOmnivore

Better tank mates for bristlenose plecos

All bristlenose pleco tank mates

Better tank mates for fancy goldfish

All fancy goldfish tank mates

Questions

Can bristlenose plecos live with fancy goldfish?

No. Bristlenose plecos and fancy goldfish should not share a tank. Fancy goldfish are coldwater animals (65–74°F); bristlenose plecos need 73–81°F. They overlap only at 73–74°F, the edge of both ranges.

What temperature suits both bristlenose plecos and fancy goldfish?

73–74 °F. Bristlenose plecos need 73–81 °F, fancy goldfish need 65–74 °F.

What size tank do bristlenose plecos and fancy goldfish need together?

At least 30 gal, set by the bristlenose pleco. Add space for each extra fish.